Helvetii

The Helvetii were a Gallic tribe that inhabited present-day western Switzerland, with their capital at Octoduron (Martigny, Valais Canton). The tribe was one of the first tribes subdued by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars, and they were forced to become vassals of the Roman Republic.

History
The Helvetii were a confederation of Gauls from the Swiss plateau to the north of the Alps, and they first made contact with the Roman Republic in 109 BC when they helped the Cimbri and Teutones invaded Italy, with their king Divico leading them. However, in 58 BC Julius Caesar led 50,000 Roman troops north in his Gallic Wars and defeated Divico at the Battle of Bibracte, killing or capturing 238,000 Helvetii in a decisive victory over the Gauls. Caesar reduced the Helvetii to a client state, and the Helvetii continued their loyalty to Rome under his successor Octavian, who helped to protect his Gallic allies against the migratory Germans.